Art of distilling hydrocarbons.



J. W. COAST, JR.

ART OF DISTILLING HYDBOCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. l9 l6.

Patented Dec. 18,19'171'.

JOHN w. coAsT, an, or TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNORL, Brivmsnr: ASSIGNMENTS, To

" 1 TE ST EsPAijNT or'ro THE PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

ART or DISTILLING HYDRdCARBONS.

Specificatidmof Letters Patent. v Patented Dec. 18, 1917- Application filed October 23, 1916. 1 Serial No. 127,128.

, To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN W. COAST, J r., p a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in-the'county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful.

Improvement in the'Art of Distilling Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a to improve the known methods of obtaining gasolene from the products which result from the ordinary distillation of crude petroleum, and with this object in view, the new method includes certain combinations of steps whereby the objectionable odor and I 'color is almost entirely eliminated through my distillation process, thus economizing in y the use of the acid ordinarily used in treating cracked products, at the same time materially reducing the percentage of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Another object is'to predetermine the specific gravity of the product in such a manner that a substantially uniform product of relatively low boiling point may be obtained by a rapid cracking operation, thereby-increasing the capacity oil-he distilling apparatus withoutreducing the. value of the resultant product. A further object is to accomplish all ofthe foregoing results and at the same time obtain a very high percentage of the desirable product from the comparatively heavy and less valuable hydrocarbons.

Figure I is a-diagrammatical view of an apparatus adapted for use in carrying out the new method. I V

Fig. II is a section on line IIII, Fig. I.

1 designates a retort'or still provided with,

a pressure chamber 2- and .a vapor pipe '3 leading from said pressure chamber to the condenser 4. A pressure regulating valve 5 is located in the vapor pipe at'a point be- A steam pipe 6 leading into the pressure chamber 2 communicates with a discharge member 7 arranged within said pressure chamber. The;

bottom face of this discharge member is provided with a multitude of small discharge ports for the discharge of a multitude of fine streams of steam into the pressure chamber 2. i

specific structure adapted for use in following my method, it is to be understood that the illustration is merely diagrammatical and that any suitable apparatus may be used in connection with the method herein claimed. I I

The new method may be used in distilling various heavy hydrocarbon products resulting from the treatment of crude petroleum, but is more particularly adapted for use in distill-ing such inexpensive heavy hydrocarbons having a boiling point of about 350 degrees F. to 800 degrees F., the most benev ficial results being obtained from hydro; carbons having a boiling point ranging from 450 degrees F. to 700 degrees F. The sub stances tobe treated are introduced into the retort in any suitable manner, and the Valve Although I have shown and described a.

5 is adjusted to insure a desired predetermined pressure in the retort and the pres- I ing from about 600 degrees F. to 800 degrees F., the fvalve 5 being regulated to obsure chamber 2. The retort is heated to subject its contents to a temperature rang- 8o tain a pressure preferably between 50 and p 150 pounds per square inch in the retort 1,

pressure chamber 2, and in that portion of the vapor pipe 3, which lies between the valve and pressure chamber.

The -vapors rise from the contents of the retort and are conducted into the pressure chamber 2, and at this point the tempera- .ture of said vapors is reduced to an approximately predetermlned degree, as will.

be hereinafter described, for the purpose of predetermining the specific gravity of the product. The vapors of. relatively high boiling point-liquefy and return from the "pressure chamber to the retort, and the remaining vapors are-conducted through the pressure regulating valve 5 to the condenser- AEWhere they are condensed under approxi mately atmospheric pressure.

The temperature of the ,steam flowing through the pipe 6 may vary from about 250 degrees F. to 500 degrees F., and the admission of Steam to the pressure chamber may be regulated by adjusting the valve 8.

When the distilling apparatus is in operation, the valve 5 is regulated and the temperature of the retort is regulated to maintain a substantially constant pressure and temperaturein the retort. lhe temperature is usually greater. than 60Q degrees F. and

as a consequence some of the heavier hydrocarbons vaporize and'v tend to flow toward the condenser With the more volatile hydrocarbons. Since one of the objects is to obtain a product ofa predetermined specific gravity, itvvould obviously be a disadrantage' to permit the relatively heavy hydrocarbons to reach the condenser. I, there fore, regulate the valve 8 to control the flow of steam into the pressure chamber 2,

thus reducing the temperature of the vapors to such an extent that the Ihydrocarbons having the relatively high boiling point Will liquefy and return to the retort,allowing the hydrocarbons of a predetermined and relatively low boiling point to pass.

from the pressure chamber to the condenser= The liquid passing from the condenser may be readily tested to determine itsspecific gravity and if the desired product is not I obtained, the steam controlling valve 8, may

be adjusted With the result of varying the specific gravity of the product, therebyenabling the operator to predetermine the approximate boiling point and specific gravity of the product without Varying the substantially constant pressure and temper ature in the retort. It Will of course be desirable to regulate the temperature and pressure to obtain the most satisfactory results. When the steam is properly regulate-d, the product may he recognized by its specific gravity; its range of boiling points; its distinctive color and odor; and a relatively small volume of fixed gas Will flow from the receiving tank. Any one of the characteristics of the product, may be readily observedby the operator to guide him in the regulation of the steam, and to be absolutely certain that the test or observation is correct, it maybe corroborated by noting one of the other distinctive qualities of the product, or by the rate of 110W of the fixed gas. Manifestly, a substantially uniform product may beeasily obtained by followin this method.

'll-'0 insure the most efficient results, the

vapors under pressure are preferably circulated from the retort in the form-of a 'stream and while confined in a restricted Space by the pressure chamber 2, this stream oat-hot vapors is acted upon by a multitude of streams of comparatively 'cool steam, passing from the discharge member 7. The

steam is thus thoroughly mingled With the hot vapors so as to reduce their temperature to such a degree (for'example 400 degrees l[*. )tha t all of the hydrocarbons having 'maining vapor toa condenser.

weaves a boiling point above a predetermined degree Will return to the retort, while the hydrocarbons having a boiling point below 'saidpredetermined degree will pass .to the condenser as previously pointed out.

' Since the specific gravity of the product may be positively controlled, the temperature and pressure may be regulated to obtain a very rapid distilling operation thus increasing the capacity of the apparatus Without injuriously aitecting the. properties of the product. I

' In actual practice, ll have found thatall of the foregoing desirable results are ob tained by my method, and furthermore,the objectionable odor andvcolor are almost entirely eliminated from the product. Iclaim: I I v 1. In the art of treating high boiling petroleum hydrocarbonathe method which com- 2.111 the art of treating high boiling petroleum hydrocarbons, the method which comprises heating, vaporizing and cracking such hydrocarbons under a pressure greater than fifty pounds, to obtain a product of lower boiling point, conducting the 'vapor to a plane higher than the retort, introducing an aqueous fluid into the vapor at the last mentioned point, said aqueous fluid being cooler than said vapor, thereby ciaus- 'ing the hydrocarbons of relatively high boiling point to return to the retort, and conducting theremaining vapor to a condenser.

petroleum hydrocarbons, the method which comprises heating, vaporizing and cracking such hydrocarbons under a pressure greater than fifty pounds,'to obtain a product-of lower boiling point, introducing steam, of a temperature lower than the vapor of said hydrocarbons, into said vapor at a point above the liquid level in the retort, thereby,

causing the hydrocarbons of relatively. high boiling point to condense and return for further cracking treatment, and conducting the remaining vapor to a condenser.

Joan W. COAST, JR.

4 j I 3. In the art of treating high boiling 

